Moments before striking the putt that would make her a major champion on the LPGA Tour, former Westlake High standout Danielle Kang felt the presence of her late father, K.S. Kang, standing by her.

Immediately a feeling of calm and happiness washed over Kang as she stepped up and knocked in the birdie putt that won her the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, making Kang the first player since Meg Mallon in 1991 to win the event with a birdie on the final hole.

“I feel like a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders,” Kang said via telephone from her home in Las Vegas. “I have not slept for 48 hours but I feel so good.

“It’s been so hard not winning (on the LPGA Tour), so it was a relief to get the win. And it’s a double whammy because it’s also a major title.”

As Kang was working toward her first win in 144 starts on the LPGA Tour, much was made of all the celebrity friends she had rooting for her.

The list included Wayne and Janet Gretzky, Caitlyn Jenner, Dustin Johnson, Marcus Allen, and Jon Lovitz, all of whom she met at Sherwood Country Club where she used to practice until moving to Las Vegas.

While the celebrity support means the world to Kang, she is quick to admit Sunday’s career moment could not have happened had she not had the strong support of her mother Grace, her brother Alex and her dad.

Seconds after winning her first title, Kang felt the warm embrace of her mother who was at the tournament all week lending her support. That support included asking her daughter from outside the ropes if she was hungry and needed anything to eat.

It was something her mom did regularly as she and her older brother Alex were playing local junior events throughout Ventura County and Southern California.

“She doesn't come out to many tournaments, but she decided to come out to this one,” Kang said. “I'm so blessed to have her with me, my first win, and for her to witness it.”

Older brother Alex, who played his high school golf at Oak Park, could not be with his sister because he’s chasing his own golf dreams while playing on the Web.com Tour.

Early in the week, Danielle felt overwhelmed by how hard the Olympia Fields golf course was. Like she had so many times in her life, she turned to Alex for help. Danielle took pictures of trouble spots on the course and texted them to Alex for advice.

The two siblings then mapped out a game plan for Danielle to follow, one she credits for her strong play all week.

“I was super-overwhelmed, and I didn't know what to do,” Kang said. “So I called Alex. It's probably one of the hardest golf courses I've played on our tour. Every shot, you have to be 100 percent focused, and that's what got me so overwhelmed.

“So we came up with a game plan that no matter what, you have to give yourself an opportunity to putt. So I just tried to keep on thinking of exactly what kind of shot I want to hit, how I want to hit it and just stuck to it.”

Armed with her brother’s game plan and her mom’s support each hole, each round, Kang found a way to become a champion.

The only thing that could have made the moment sweeter would have been having her dad there, as well.

Danielle has always been a daddy’s girl and as such she liked nothing more than to please her father. And she loved how much pride her father had each time she won a golf tournament.

Her dad caddied for her when she won back-to-back United States Women’s Amateur titles in 2010 and 2011. The U.S. Amateur winners get a championship ring. The first time Kang won the title, she gave her dad the ring, much to the chagrin of her mom.

During the championship match in 2011, Kang said she and her dad were walking down the 13th fairway and out of the blue the subject of the championship ring came up.

“He's pushing the cart, and he goes, `If I wear two, that would be a little ridiculous, right?’” “I go, `Dad, just give mom one.' Kang said. He goes, `OK, we can give your mom one.’ I just loved him. Because, first of all, it's not over yet. Second, of all, he goes, ‘I think it would be a little too ridiculous to wear multiple rings. Let's just give it to your mom.’ He was a very honest and — just an honorable man.”

While Kang lost her hero to cancer four years ago, he’s still part of her daily life. She had the word “dad,” tattooed in Korean on the outside of her right hand, so that way when she extends her hand to meet someone, they get to meet the man who means so much to her.

Kang also talks to and converses with her dad every day. At some point each day, she writes her dad a note or a text or has a momentary conversation with him.

On Sunday night, following the biggest moment of her professional life, Kang scribbled a note to her dad that said, “We did it. I won. Thank you.”

“I would wish that my dad saw me win,” Kang said. “But I think that it's been a really difficult road for me for the past four or five years. It's life, though. You have to pick yourself up and you have to keep working hard at it, and then believe in what you're doing, and not letting yourself down.

“I am who I am because of them (her family). I wouldn’t be here without them.”